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8/07/2014

By almost 2-to-1 vote, Missouri approves stronger constitutional protections to own guns

Bloomberg's gun groups claimed that this change would hurt safety in Missouri. Voters overwhelmingly rejected the claims. An explanation of the changes to the Missouri Constitution are available here at KFVS Channel 12:

The “right to bear arms” referendum (Amendment 5) will reiterate the U.S. Constitution’s similar guarantee, but with more specificity, making that right “inalienable.” Supporters argued it was needed because of attempts to restrict gun rights on the national level.

Opponents argued that it would be an unnecessary duplication of the federal Constitution’s Second Amendment and that it could impede enforcement of reasonable firearms restrictions.

After the vote, the group “Moms Demand Gun Sense in America” issued a statement warning: “Today Missouri voters approved a gun lobby-backed proposal that could gravely undermine public safety.” . . .